Manchester United have confirmed that another of their players has moved to Real Madrid on loan.

Uruguayan defender Guillermo Varela has followed in the footsteps of Javier Hernandez, moving to the Spanish capital for the season but in his case to join up with the La Liga side’s B team.

The right-back only arrived at Old Trafford last summer, becoming the first transfer of the David Moyes era despite the deal being set up during Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure.

But the 21-year-old has now moved on, with United confirming on their official website that the right-back will continue his development in Madrid.

There is no information as to whether or not the loan move contains the option to buy but it is the latest twist in an eventful year for the player.

After his parents were involved in a car accident at the end of last year, Varela was granted compassionate leave in order to return to Uruguay.

It was later claimed that the player could return to former club Penarol on loan in order to remain close to his family; but that move failed to materialise and he ended the season back with United’s under-21s.

But now he has moved on – at least temporarily – and it will be intriguing to see how he develops during his time in Spain.

Vincent Ralph

After graduating with a degree in English Literature, Vincent completed a NCTJ-accredited qualification in newspaper and magazine journalism in 2005. Shortly after, in a somewhat leftfield move, he began working at a secondary school in Kent. After eight years – the last four of which were spent as Head of Sixth Form – he began to write full-time, combining his love of football with his passion for the written word.Alongside his work for HITC Sport, he also writes film reviews for HITC Lifestyle… along with the odd music interview when fate allows.